ATLANTA, Ga. - (January 31, 2011) – The landscape of healthcare is changing and so must the healthcare systems that operate within it. To best meet the challenges ahead, Piedmont Healthcare has created the new senior leadership position of executive vice president and chief transformation officer as part of its corporate leadership structure – promoting Michele M. Molden, former Piedmont Heart Institute president and CEO, to the role. In addition, Sidney Kirschner has been appointed as executive vice president for Piedmont Healthcare and the new president and CEO of Piedmont Heart Institute.

Molden led the development of the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI), established in 2007, to become the premier cardiovascular program in the Southeast. PHI brings together more than 100 of the best and brightest affiliated physicians who are specialists in cardiovascular medicine and who work collaboratively with the hospitals to deliver exceptional heart care. As a result, Piedmont Hospital has experienced significant growth in its cardiovascular service line, including increases in patient volume and expansion of services. In the coming weeks, PHI physicians will add heart transplantation to their menu of services.

Molden’s new role focuses on corporate development, additional physician/hospital partnerships and external relationships, bringing her expertise in organizational development to the corporate office. This focus is critical to Piedmont’s future, given the unprecedented pace of reform and leveraging Molden’s expertise in leading strategic initiatives and supporting change. She also will work to formalize a physician leadership development program, recognizing the increasing role of physicians in administrative management functions across the organization. Molden also continues her role as executive sponsor of Piedmont’s partnership with Mercer University, the Center for Health and Learning.

Meanwhile, the expertise of Sidney Kirschner, former Northside Hospital CEO (1992-2004), brings long-time leadership expertise to PHI. Kirschner’s important and respected experience in healthcare administration will be critical to the future success of Piedmont’s cardiovascular physician practice and services in a new era of healthcare. He also brings very broad business experience to the healthcare system and PHI. Before joining Northside Hospital, Kirschner was the chairman, president and CEO of National Service Industries (NSI), a Fortune 500 company.

As president and CEO of Piedmont Heart Institute, Kirschner will oversee all aspects of the organization and work with the existing leadership team to advance the vision and create the premier cardiovascular program in the Southeast, and one of the best in the nation.
“We owe tremendous gratitude to Michele for her visionary leadership of Piedmont Heart Institute since and including its inception,” said R. Timothy Stack, president and CEO of Piedmont Healthcare. “The unprecedented pace of change in the healthcare industry requires that we proactively focus on strategic growth initiatives to sustain the organization for generations to come.”

Stack continues, “We are also excited to have Sidney join our organization and welcome his expertise and guidance. We are confident that under his leadership, Piedmont Heart Institute will continue to cement its position as the premier cardiovascular program in the Southeast.”

Supporting and continuing Piedmont’s reputation for high-quality care necessitates a constant commitment to assessing our organizational structure. The uncertain climate created by federal healthcare reform and state budget issues reinforces the need for organizational change.